Where to See Cherry Blossoms on O‘ahu
Hawai‘i’s cherry blossom season has arrived! Here’s where you can view the lovely flowers in bloom.
Cherry blossoms at ‘Iliahi Neigbhorhood Park. Photo: Brie Thalmann
The cherry blossoms have just begun blooming! Thanks to our tropical climate, their season arrives early in Hawai‘i, with the delicate pink and white flowers typically in bloom mid-January through early March. You might be unaware that O‘ahu even has cherry blossom trees, but that’s not surprising, as they seem to be relegated to just a few parts of the island and bloom for such a short period.
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Here’s a little background: According to the Japanese American National Museum, O‘ahu’s first cherry blossom trees were brought from Okinawa to Waipi‘o Acres in the early 1950s, with hundreds of seedlings distributed and planted throughout Wahiawā. Trees were planted at Leilehua High School in 1985 as part of a celebration honoring Japanese immigrants. In 2012, in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Japan gifting the U.S. mainland with 3,020, Japanese sakura were planted in Waimea, Wahiawā and Mānoa. And from 2020 to 2024, Mānoa Valley District Park received several trees—three Oshima zakura trees can be found along Mānoa Stream, though they aren’t in the right state to bloom this season.
Today, while there are smatterings of cherry blossom trees in several parts of O‘ahu, the largest concentration—once reported at 500 trees—still seems to be in Wahaiwā. Drive down California Avenue, and you’ll spot them in residents’ yards, fronting buildings and at the following spots:
Wahiawā Hongwanji Mission
A cluster of trees stands along the Buddhist temple’s fence line along California Ave.
1067 California Ave., Wahiawā
Wahiawā Botanical Garden
The 27-acre garden has five large sakura trees, one of which was donated by the Fukuoka Lion’s Club around five years ago. You’ll find them across the foot bridge from the garden’s parking lot.
Free admission, 1396 California Ave., Wahiawā, (808) 621-5463, honolulu.gov, @honolulubotanicalgardens
‘Iliahi Neighborhood Park
We counted 16 trees large enough to put forth blooms and a handful of saplings along the park’s perimeter.
2021 California Ave., Wahiawā
‘Iliahi Elementary School
A mix of Japanese sakura, including Oshima zakura and Kochi zakura, were planted near the school’s softball field in 2024.
2035 California Ave., Wahiawā
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